Earlier this week, a friend I used to work with at a marketing firm (before my podiatry days) reached out and asked me what I have been up to for the last decade. (Note: I’m not the best at long-distance friendships).
I’m sure many of you have been in the same boat as me when it comes to feeling reluctant to tell people what you do for a living. They just don’t get it, right? It’s hard for others to envision the grind we put in working in the podiatric space; whether we are at home… and especially when we are on the road.
So instead of trying to explain, I sent her a portfolio of my most recent work… and I got super emotional. I took some time to look at all of the materials I’ve created… reflected on all of the companies/organizations that I’ve been a part of in this incredibly unique profession… and took a 12 year trip down memory lane with some of my favorite people in the world… many of you reading this now.
My VERY FIRST PODIATRY MEETING was the National 2011 in Boston when I was a marketing director for an orthotic lab. Raise your hand if you were there! In two weeks, I’ll be seeing a lot of you in Nashville for the APMA National Conference; and it’s always a week in which I feel the sentiment of both a new beginning with the warm and fuzzies of nostalgia.
In the last 12 years, I’ve laughed with you… I’ve cried with you… I’ve probably gotten snippy (that’s a euphemism for b*tchy) with some of you… and I’ve LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU.
What’s my point here???? This is supposed to be a tip for y’all. Well, my point is… take a moment to sit back and reflect on what you’ve accomplished while you’ve been involved in the podiatry space.
So many of you have a lifetime of experience over me in this profession, while others feel like my “high school buddies” and we were all recruited to podiatry around the same time; and some of you are precious newbies that I am inclined to take under my wing.
Regardless of when you showed up; if you’re one of us who keeps grinding… who keeps showing up… who keeps trying to figure out how to make your process better, your DPM relationships better, your meeting experiences better – then you are making an impact that you might not even recognize.
Take a moment and think of all the practices/physicians you’ve consulted with; all the friends and family members you’ve had to convince of the importance of foot health.
I hope you use the time at your next meeting (whether it’s in a couple of weeks with us in Nashville or not) and look around the room. Step back, and be proud of yourself for being a part of something that matters.
HERE’S A FUN VIDEO ANN MADE LAST SUMMER FOR PODIATRYEXPO THAT SHOWS A FRACTION OF OUR EXPERIENCES AS PARTNERS AND FRIENDS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET CREATIVE AND BUILD YOUR TEAM UP WITH SOMETHING SIMILAR. IT’S ASTONISHING WHAT YOU DON’T REMEMBER UNTIL YOU TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.

Expo-All-I-know-so-far-FINAL.mp4

-Sarah Breymeier